Thoughts on Popular Culture and Unpopular Culture by Jaime J. Weinman (email me)

Monday, October 15, 2007

"Since Rock N' Roll Went Clean"

Every so often I self-indulgently post song lyrics that I wrote and can't use anywhere else. (Not very often, though, so don't worry.) This is one I wrote for a spot in the One, Two, Three musical I wanted to write; since it took place in 1961, I thought it was worthwhile writing something about the music of 1961 -- the bland, post-'50s, pre-Beatles rock n' roll. The rhythm of this may be incomprehensible without a tune, but anyway I like some of the jokes about early '60s music, though it could use some more specific references.

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GIRLSOh, tell us, Fraulein Scarlett, What songs do you sing with your friends?Won't you give us a listOf the twists that you twistAnd each new weave and bobWe have probably missed?We're jealous, Fraulein Scarlett,You know all the musical trends,So, tell us, Fraulein Scarlett,The rock-n'-roll music that sends.

BOYS American music, American music rocks!American music is full of electric shocks!We do all the dances we see on the TV box!Hopping in socks!

BOYS & GIRLSWe're zealous, Fraulein Scarlett,We shake till it gives us the bends. Rock n' roll has no shameAnd it sets us aflame.

SCARLETTBut today's rock n' rollIs a whole different game.

GIRLS & BOYSWas ist das? Was ist los?

SCARLETT I'm explaining it badly.Won't you gather in closeWhile I try again?

SCARLETTAmerica two years agoWas in the worst of binds,'Cause rock n' roll had seized controlOf all the teenage minds.In sixty-one, we still have fun,But less offensive kinds.The army came for Elvis,Little Richard came to Jesus,And so we looked around and foundA softer sound to please us.

SCARLETTSince every single teenIs part of a machine,Folks like Chuck BerrySeem terribly scary,And probably very mean.Oh, yeah,That new Frankie ValliIs right up our alley, Which means a finaleFor tall girls named Sally,Since rock n' roll Got more heart, less soul,And went clean.

SCARLETTOh, yeah, Everything's peachy keen,The bopping and hoppingIs finally stopping,And when we're not shopping,We're mostly do-wopping,America's future is brighter,'Cause music is so much politer and whiterSince rock n’ roll went clean.

1 comment:

Interesting observation, if not completely an accurate one. Rock 'n' roll circa '61 was perhaps not as raw and exciting as it was in '56 or '57, but its best music was becoming more sophisticated. Think of the "uptown rhythm 'b' blues" from the likes of the Drifters, the beginnings of Motown and soul, Gene Pitney's first records (with plenty of self-overdubbing), and Ray Charles at his commercial peak. Even some of the earlier acts, such as Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers, were making fine Top 40 fare. Bruce Springsteen would tell you that music from that era was not the "dark ages" of rock some historians allege it was, and I would agree with him.